Improvement in trunk-catches



J. ARNOLD. Trunk-Catch.

No. 205,335. Patented June 25, I878.

N-PETERS, EflOTO-UTHOGRAFNER, WASHINGYON, D Q

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN ARNOLD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

. IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNK-CATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,335, dated June 25, 1878 application filed May 13, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ARNOLD, of the city of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Catches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in self-fastenin g catches, more particularly adapted to trunks for the purpose of better securing the lid when closed, thereby dispensing with the straps, buckles, &c., heretofore used.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the nature and character of the invention, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improved catch when locked. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same, taken through line as. Fig. 3 is a top view of the plate, which is secured to the body of the trunk; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the loop, which forms a catch and lifter combined.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in each of the several figures.

My improvement consists in a metallic catch or fastener so constructed and applied to a trunk that, in closing the lid, the catch automatically locks itself and the trunk is firmly closed, thus avoiding the use of straps.

That the construction of my self-latching device may be better understood, reference is made to the drawing, in which A is a plate secured to the valance of a trunk-lid, and is recessed or hollowed out lengthwise on its inner side to admit a spring, b. The plate A is also provided with lugs c c on each side of the recess at about its center, long enough to penetrate the valance of the lid, which prevents the plate from slipping. On the upper side of lugs c the plate has recesses m, which form a bearing for and receive part of a loop or holder, D, so that when adjusted said loop has a hinge motion, and serves as a catch and lifter combined.

It will also be observed that the lower end of plate A is formed into a tongue, 0, which projects below the valance of a trunk-lid and enters a recess, h, formed in the top of a plate,

F, which is secured to the top edge of the body of a trunk, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, said plate F being also grooved upon the outside, so as to form a projection, G, as shown in the same figures, which engages with loop D when the trunk is closed, thus holding the lid and the body of the trunk firmly together.

Loop D is similar in its construction to the frame of an ordinary buckle, and is provided with a short fiat tongue, a, rigidly attached to or forming a part of its hinged end, as seen in Fig. 4, said tongue being in constant contact with spring b, located in plate A, Fig. 2, which imparts to the loop its self-catching action.

It will also be observed that loop D is slightly beveled inward at its lower extremity, so that when adjusted to plate A and secured to the lid the plate, spring, and loop are held together in juxtaposition as one fixture, and on closing the trunk the loop slides over catch G, and by the action of spring I) upon tongue The expense of my metallic trunk-clasp is much less than the straps, buckles, 850., now used for securing the lid, and far superior in regard to durability and elegance.

If preferred, the clasp may be made of composition metal and polished, or of cast-iron nickel-plated, thus making the fixture highly ornamental as well as durable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The plate A, its central tongue 6, recesses 00, and spring I), in combination with the loop D, extending round and below the tongue 0 through the recesses 00, and provided with the lip a bearing against the spring, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ARNOLD.

Witnesses:

OLIVER DRAKE, P. J. INsLEE. 

